Waiting for the Putz

Last summer the CBC decided to pull the plug the plug on Fuse much to the sadness of any music fan in this country with any sense of adventure. Now the host of Fuse, Amanda Putz, is also gone from CBC Radio 3, her morning time slot was taken over this morning by Vish Khanna.

As some of you may know I ran the Facebook Fan club for Fuse, but now that Amanda is behind the scenes at Canada Live I wasn't sure what to do. So while we wait for Amanda to find her way to a live mic again I've created a Fan Page for Ms. Putz herself since the powers that be seem intent on canceling her shows this will be a fan club for fans of whatever she is doing and whatever she may do next an 'un-cancellable' thing.

I know that Amanda is not the most attentive of Facebook users - she has actually promised never to read the overflow of messages in her Facebook in box but hopefully we can get her to stop by and say hello and fill us in on what's going on with her from time to time.

If you want to sign up it's at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Putz/43961612043

The CBC Reaches the End of It's Fuse

According to a note I recieved from the show, as of August 20 there will be no more Fuse on CBC Radio. Fuse is (until August) a unique concept in live music programming. Fuse brought together artists of different styles in front of a live audience and had them play together - broadcasting the show to all of Canada.

Just a small sampling included

Sunparlor Players & Voices of Praise
Greg Keelor & Cuff The Duke
Rock Plaza Central & Tafelmusik
Grand Analog & Dr. Draw
Abdominal & Henri Fabergé and the Adorables
The Skydiggers & Kyrie Kristmanson
Apostle of Hustle & Tanya Tagaq
Andrew Cash & Jenn Grant
Andre Ethier & Sandro Perri
Royal Wood & Priya Thomas
Jon Rae and the River & Anne Lindsay
Patrick Watson & Torngat
Veda Hille & No Luck Club
Hilotrons & Lily Frost
Woodpigeon & Jay Crocker

I mention these shows in particular because all of them are still available to listen to (but not download) through the Fuse Website. As I understand it even more shows will be added to the list before they are all done. Not all that long ago I started a for Facebook Group Fuse with the hope of convincing the CBC to make it into a podcast. I should have known better. My liking something on CBC (outside of Radio 3) seems to be the kiss of death as evidenced by my two favorite recent CBC Television shows This is Wonderland and jPod.

Still, it is sad, given CBC's recent re-commitment to a wide range of Canadian music I find it sad and somewhat confusing that they should start by killing off their most original, eclectic and creative music program.

However, not to be deterred I have launched a new Facebook Goup in support of the CBC Radio 3 Sessions, as well as a corresponding Facebook Fan Page because some people prefer that. I have also launched a Facebook Fan Page for Canadian music generally:

Rather than a page for a particular artist, group or group of artists this page is more generally for Canadian music. Announcements will go out with tour info, new facebook groups or pages related to Canadian music and other information for Canadian music lovers (of all styles and genres).

While the loss of Fuse is definitely a blow to Canadian music, there are simply too many extremely talented Canadian musicians to even think that that the loss of that battle will cost the war.

Still to come on Fuse before it disappears:

--July 5: Julian Fauth, Luke Doucet & Melissa McClelland

--July 12: Katie Stelmanis & Fred Eaglesmith

--July 19: Laura Barrett & The Hylozoists

--July 26: Greg Keelor & Cuff The Duke

--Aug 2: Sunparlour Players & Voices of Praise Gospel Group

--Aug 9: Brandon Isaak & Threat From Outer Space

--Aug 16: Basia Bulat & Done Gone String Band

--Aug 23: Choir Practice & Oye

--Aug 30: Finest Kind & Forest City Lovers

Superfantasticer!

So do you remember way back on May 31 when I wrote about Julie Dorion and the Superfantastics and the links between them? Sure you do, because you all love me and care about what I think.

Well, tomorrow on Fuse Julie Dorion and the Superfantastics will be playing together:

"Julie Doiron has cris-crossed Canada for years in bands like Eric's Trip and Broken Girl, singing sweet songs with her sad voice and noisy guitar. The Superfantastics have been banging out power-pop for a shorter time, but the buzz about their catchy songs stretches far across the country. Together, Julie Doiron and The Superfantastics create a Fuse of irresistible pop-rock licks, all in front of an adoring audience in Sackville, New Brunswick."

Pretty cool eh? You can catch Fuse Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. (3:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio One and Saturdays at 6:00 a.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. ET on Sirius Satellite 137.

You can also, if you're a keener, join the Fuse Facebook Group here or add the Facebook Fan Page here.